X-ray appliance



Oct. 1928. C. H. PIEPER ET AL Filed Nov. 21. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 40INVENTORS onel LefJer Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,509

o. H. PIEPER ET AL X-RAY APPLIANCB med Nov. 21, 1924 2 sheets-snm 2INyENToRs MQW ATTORNEY Patented Get. 16, 1921.8.r

narran stares i i `11,687,509 Partnr orsi-csv.

OSCAR H. PIEPER AND ALPHONSE F. PIEPER, OF ROCHESTER, NEV'YGRK.

XQRAY APPLIANCE.

Application filed November 21, 1924. Serial No; 751,219.

rlhis invention relates to X-ray appliances such, for example, as thevariety in which the X-ray tube is flexibly supported on a tube standfor adjustment tov different positions about an object to be treated, asdesirable, for example, in tiental Work, one object vof the inventionbeing to provide such an apparatus with eiiicient guard means for thehigh tension portions or the tube for eliminating ,danger to the patientand operator during the use oi the same. More speciically,'it is anobject ot' the invention to provide improved apparatus or this characterembodying guard means comprising both an insulating portion and agrounded metalportion spaced trom the first portion to preserve a safetyair gap. A further object is to provide an adjustably supported tubeofthe type having a combined heat radiating means and high tensionterminal at one end thereof, with simple and practical means forguarding'the said tube4 portions with a casing of insulating materialand at the same time provided for ventilation o1" tl e heat radiatingmeans. y

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations or parts all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end`'of the specification. j

In the drawings: l Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus embodyingthe present invention; n

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view yon theline 2a a Vin Figure 5; s

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 352-3EL in Figure ,4;Y o

Figure 4tis an enlarged elevation of the tube assembly and supportingmeans partly in section; i n Y o Figure 5 is a top plan view of thesame; Figure 6 is an end view ofthe guard 4means as seen ,from the rightin Figure 11, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the same "on the line fa-Win Figure 1.

` Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts. y

' The invention is embodied in the present instance in conjunction Withan lX-ray apparatus particularly suitable for dental Work such asdisclosed in our copending application for Letters Patent Serial No.y491,903, iiled August 13, 1921, for unitary apparatus for projectinglight rays, and comprising generally, as shown in Figure 1, an X-ray oftelescopically adjustable arm sections 19.1

The latter are pivotally supported on the upper end of a standard 2Otelescoping vertical-A ly in a portable cabinet 21 for the high tensiontransformer 22, rheost-at switches and other electricall operating.means, as fully described in our said copending applicationso that amore detailed descriptionherein appears unnecessary. Cabinet 21 isadapted toibe positioned beside or behind a surgical chair with thestandard arm overhanging the ypatient and tlexibi'y supporting the tubefor universal adjustment so that it may be quickly and easily arrangedin any desired position about the object to be treated. f l

The invention may be employed in conibination With various types of Xmaytubes, that at present preferred being of the variety having its rayprojecting portion at one end and its high tension anode terminal 23 atthe other,as shouf'n in thedraivings,`vivith an intermediate tubeholding ,frame 11, as described comprising spaced collars clampedagainst opposite sides o1l an enlarged portion of the tube by means ofbolts 2d, Oneot these collars is arranged to slide horizontally betweenguide-vvays 25 'formed by the upper and lower sides or the. yoke 12 inone or the adjusting movements of the tube; Y

'llie high tension terminal 23 of the tube is connected by a conductor26 with the high tension terminal of transformer 22 in the cab- 27 and28 on the stand and passing down an in* sulating post 29 for` thepurpose of maintaining the sameV in substantially spaced relation Withthe stand and so far as possibleat the opposite side ot the stand at alltimes from the patient and operator. At 30 are the lovv tensionconnections ybetween the operating means .in the cabinet and the tube.In the present instance also the anode terminal carries heatradiatingmeans in the form of a series ot'oflanges or fins 31 tordissipating the generated heat.'y The guard means ltor protecting theoperator and patient against shock from the high tension connections inall posi` tionsof the tube is combined in the present instance with atube of the above variety and will now be described. n

The guard means is of a double nature comprising a portion of insulatingmaterial in the form of a casing partially enclosing the high tensionterminal and also a grounded metal portion arranged eX eriorly of thelirst portion and at a substantial distance therefrom to maintain:ineffective air gap.

The first mentioned portion of the guardis in the form of a hollowsubstantially semicylindrical body 32 vof suitable insulating materialor composition such as can be readily molded in manufacture into thedesiredfshape7 as well understood in the art. rThis guard isproportioned and arranged so that its walls completely enclose the hightensionterminaly and heat radiating means at the end of the tube on allbut the upper side which is far-y thest removed from the operator and'patient in the manipulation of the tube and the guard may beconveniently supported insuch position by being provided with clampingmeans for mounting it directly on the adjacent tube end. For thispurpose the guard acent the tube has acontracted extension 83'proportionedto lit thelovver side of the tube as shown. A semi-circularstrap-34 also of insulating materialembraces the upper side of the tubeand 1s detachably secured 'at its yends to the guard portion 38 by meansof screws forming a split yoke by which the guard may be securelyclamped in position on the tube, so as to effectively protect objectsagainst contact/With or undue proximity to the high tension portions ofthe tube. At the same time the upper or least accessible side of theguard is left open to provide for rapid dissipation ofthe heat by theradiating means 31. j

To increase the protection afforded by the guard portions 82, there isalsol provided a second yguard portion in the form ofa metallic or Wireframe 36' supported in spaced relation' from the first guard portion and"tube'terminal and having a. grounding connection such .as continuouscontact with the grounded standard of the apparatus. This guard portionis preferably grounded on the stand as more particularly describedhereafter at the end opposite the high tension portions while the end ofthe guard frame .adjacent the lat-ter or guard 32 is additionallysupported for rigidity by means of an insulating character Bar 41 isliXed to the` holding frame in the manner described by the provision ofscrews 43 adapted tobe turned in bosses 44 on the bar to and fromclamping engagement with the frame bolt 24 for securely attaching theguard to the tube. The frame thus affords a complete and effective guardabout and spaced at a substantial dis tance from the guard'kportion 32.'l he guard frame 3G is additionally supported by spaced structs 45secured at one end yto its strap 38 and at the other to metal sockets 46anchored inthe composition guard 82, struts beingl preferabl iconstruct-ed of suitable insulating 'material so that no metal portionsof the frame approach the first guard portions or the.

high tension connections. Y

` lt will be-noted from the above described construction thattheinsulating guard portion 32 is rigidly clamped directly to the hightension ofthe X-ray tube orthe usual glass shield tube for the same, andthat the conduct-ing vguard portion '36y `is rigidly secured to thefirst guard portion 32, and by means of thelatter to the high tensionendof the tube. Such constructionl rigidly supports both guard portionsto just that portion of the tube7 namely *the high tension endwhich isto be protected,l .so that the impacts ofr usage, and blovvs ofconsiderable force cannot" derange either guard portion from its properposition. rigidly supportedat those points Where the spacing isimportant', and yso that no impact-s can bendthem to allow/'objects toapproach dangerously near the high tension conductors. It willfurthermore be noted that theI conducting guard. portion( 36" is givenan open form of construction through the use f of a Wire frame so thatthis portion does not interfere with free circulation of the air whichis relied upon to cool the radiating means of the tube. l

"While the metal guard` portion 86 is secured as described to the metaltube holdingr frame '11'. sliding onthe metal tube stand, it ispreferred -to further'Y insure eective grounding of this portion of theguard'at all In `other words, the guards are times on the stand by anadditional contact;

to maintain a good electrical connectiony shouldtheslidingcontactbetween the tube holding frame and stand be renderedI resistent by theaction of lubrication sub-y stance. To thisend there is secured to anend of the guard framebar 41 a conducting leaf'spring 47, Figures 3 and4,* arranged to maintain the sliding contact at all times with the lowerside of the standard yoke 12 in the sliding movement in the latter ofthetubev holding frame.

rEhe kinverjtion thus providesa doubly effeet-ive guard forthe hightension portions ofy the tube capable of being manufactured andassembled in a practical and economical manner and ingenious'lyadaptedin allposi'- tions of the tube to maintain a casing of insulatingmaterial and in addition a spaced and grounded metal frame between thehigh tension portions of the tube and objects which might be broughtinto contact or undue proximity thereto.

We claim as our invention: f

1. In X-ray appliances the combination of an X-ray tube, a supportforsaid tube comprising spaced collars and tie rods connecting the same,and a metal guard frame provided With means :for adjustably anddetachably securing the same to said rods for maintaining` an air gapabout said tube.

2. In X-ray appliances, the combination of an X-ray tube, a support forsaid tube comprising spaced collars and tie rods connecting the same, aguard portion of insulating material having a yoke for engagement withsaid tube to support the saine thereon, andV a Wire frame secured tosaid guard portion and provided With means for detachably securing thesame to said tie rods for maintaining an air gap about saidtube.

3. In X-ray appliances, the combinationof an X-ray tube havinga hightension terminal i and heat radiating means at'one end thereof,

means for supporting said tube, a guard of insulating materialconstructed to enclose the high tension end of said tube, but open atits top to provide for cooling circulation of air, a split yoke indetachable clamping engagement about said tube end and connected to saidinsulating guard to rigidly support said guard directly on said tube,and a grounded Wire `frame rigidly connected by insulating means inspaced relation with said guard to preserve an air gap and provided withmeans detachably securing the same to said tube support.

OSCAR H. PIEPER. ALPHONSE F. Vrrnrnu.

